Sanwo-Olu hails Oniru business council as model for responsible, inclusive development in Lagos
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos state, has described the Oniru Business and Cultural Day as a model of how leadership can shape development responsibly, praising the traditional institution for its dedication to inclusive growth.
The governor spoke at the business session of the formal inauguration of the Oniru business council and the celebration of the Cultural Day, held at the Oniru Palace, Iru, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Saturday.
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by Obafemi Hamzat, his deputy, said his administration has focused on strengthening the foundations of economic prosperity through the T.H.E.M.E. S+ development agenda, particularly as the country approaches another electoral cycle.
The governor said Lagos has deliberately embraced an inclusive economy, noting that the transformation of the Oniru axis from a largely residential and underdeveloped area into a prime destination for hospitality, real estate, commerce and creative enterprise was driven by strategic planning, collaboration with traditional institutions and investor confidence.
“The Oniru Business and Cultural Day provides a model of how leadership can shape development responsibly. When traditional institutions provide stability and clarity of vision, investors respond positively. Communities grow and culture becomes an asset,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The governor added that through targeted programmes supporting small and medium-scale enterprises, digital entrepreneurship, the creative economy and vocational training, his administration is expanding pathways to prosperity and ensuring that growth is broad-based.
He assured the business community that Lagos will remain open for business and stable even as the state heads into another election season.
Also speaking, Folashade Bada-Ambrose, the commissioner for commerce, cooperatives, trade and investment, said Lagos is built on heritage, enterprise, innovation and collaboration, with traditional institutions playing a vital role in community-driven development and investment confidence.
According to her, the Oniru business network offers a platform for dialogue and shared accountability among government, traditional institutions and the private sector.
“Government cannot act in isolation, and the private sector cannot flourish without regulatory clarity and infrastructure support. When these pillars work together, progress becomes inevitable,” she said.
Bada-Ambrose said the state continues to welcome investment in key sectors such as manufacturing, technology, agriculture value chains, renewable energy, the creative economy and financial services, while strengthening public-private partnerships and regulatory reforms to protect investors and the public interest.
On his part, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, the Oniru of Iru Kingdom, described the event as the institutional expression of a vision shaped by years of consultation and engagement across the kingdom.
He said stakeholders consistently called for coordinated growth, structured dialogue and inclusive prosperity, stressing that development must benefit both host communities and investors.
“Our people desire a system where opportunity expands without friction, where engagement replaces uncertainty and collaboration replaces isolation,” the monarch said.
“That solution takes institutional form through the Oniru Business and Cultural Day, guided by our philosophy of Peace Through Partnership.”
